Can someone start life again at 50?

In 2017, at 63 years of age, the international release of Richard Hill’s new book, The Practitioner’s Guide to Mirroring Hands, written with the esteemed psychotherapist and theorist, Ernest Rossi, PhD, marked an extraordinary life achievement.  

But, approaching 50 years of age, Richard’s acting career had run its course. During the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s Richard was a regular face on our TV screens, radio and on stage. His appearances included A Country Practice, Sons and Daughters, Applause, The Twenties and All That Jazz, plus loads of tv and radio commercials. Unfortunately, the next few years included the GFC, and an amical, but costly divorce, which left him with no career, an empty bank account, and few prospects. The time had come to start something new.

Richard picked up Stephen Pinker’s book, The Language Instinct, and made a spur of the moment decision to go to university and study linguistics. After all, acting was all about talking. This began an academic adventure that changed everything. Although his BA took nearly seven years, Richard had found his new passion.

“The brain, mind and human behaviour became my new love affair. Over the next 10 years I completed three Masters degrees, the final one with the Brain and Mind Institute at Sydney University. It was a 180 degree turn, like starting a whole new life.”

His first book, Choose Hope, following a family tragedy, was published in 2000, another followed in 2006, How the ‘real world” Is Driving Us Crazy! plus numerous articles, book chapters and regular speaking engagements around the world. Ernest Rossi began to mentor Richard in 2006.

2017 heralded the international publication of The Practitioner’s Guide to Mirroring Hands, launched at the Evolution of Psychotherapy conference in Anaheim, USA before 7500 people. Richard’s “overnight success” or more accurately “life transformation” took around 15 years. This is a story about how it is never too late to start and, with passion, hard work and curiosity, there is always something interesting to become.

Richard can be contacted by email: richard@richardhill.com.au; and mobile: 0414 585 903. For more information: www.richardhill.com.au